Accelerated bridge construction has quickly become the preferred method for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as well as many other DOT’s across the United States. This type of construction requires the use of full depth precast panels for the construction of the bridge deck. The segmented deck panels produce transverse joints between panels and have come to be known as the weakest portion of the deck. Cracking often occurs at these joints and is reflected through the deck overlay where water accesses and begins corrosion of the reinforcement and superstructure below. For this reason post-tensioning of the deck panels is becoming a regular practice to ensure that the deck behaves more monolithically, limiting cracking. The current post-tensioning used by UDOT inhibits future replacement of single deck panels and requires that all panels be replaced once one panel is deemed defective. The new curved bolt connection provides the necessary compressive stresses across the transverse joints but makes future replacement of a single deck panel possible without replacing the entire bridge deck. To better understand the behavior of the new curved bolt connection under loadings, laboratory testing was undertaken on both the curved bolt and the current post-tensioning used by UDOT. The testing specimens included full-scale, full-depth, precast panels that were connected using both system. The testing induced typical stresses on the panels and connections, subjecting them to negative bending and shear. The overall performance of the curved bolt proved satisfactory. The moment capacity of both connections surpassed all theoretical calculations. The yield and plastic moments were 17% and 16% lower, respectively, than the UDOT post-tension system while at those moments deflection was relatively the same. Due to the anchorage location of the curved bolts, the reinforcement around the transverse joint received up to 5 times the strain of that of the post-tension connections. Although both systems performed well when subjected to shear forces and as compared to the theoretical capacities, the post-tension connection greatly surpassed the curved bolt in shear capacity.

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls have provided an effective solution to constructing retaining walls. The engineering and construction industry is continually striving to provide more cost-effective and design-efficient means to building MSE walls. Hilfiker Retaining Walls has developed a new semi-extensible metal mat reinforcement technology which does not fit into the current extensible or inextensible categories as defined by regulating authorities. The objective of this project was to construct and observe the behavior collect quantitative data for a 20-foot tall MSE wall using the prototype semi-extensible reinforcement technology. The results were compared to expected American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Load Reduction Factored Design values and was also compared to another case study, Prediction of Reinforcement Loads in Reinforced Soil Walls as conducted by Tony M. Allen, P.E., and Richard J. Bathurst, Ph. D., P. Eng. Comparing the behavior of the 20-foot prototype MSE wall to these design regulations and case studies allowed for proper classification and will facilitate future industry design efforts.

A suitable microtome sampling technique was used to sample cheese for analysis using FTIR spectroscopy. Well-separated fat- and protein-related bands were obtained in the spectra of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese samples using this method. The absorbance intensity of the spectra was proportional to the thickness of the sample. The intensity of absorbance and fat- and protein-related bands increased with an increase in the fat and protein content in the sample. Strong and well-separated bands at 1744, 1450, 1240, 1170, and 1115 cm-1 arising mainly from fat content were observed using this method. Bands observed at 1650 and 1540 cm-1 were attributed to the protein present in the cheese. Bands at 1615-1639, 1640-1648, 1650-1658, and 1660-1688 cm-1 corresponding to β-sheet, random coil, helix, and the turns/sheet portion of the secondary structure were observed int he range of the amide I band. Characteristics of spectra for full-fat (FFCC) and reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (RFCC) during ripening were investigated. The absorbance of bands at 1116-1240 from C-C, C-O, C-N stretch, 1461 cm-1 from C-N bend (scissoring), 1744 cm-1 from ester carbonyl groups (fat A), 2850-2930 cm-1 from C-H stretch (fat B), 1650 and 1540 cm-1 from protein amide I and II varied druing cheese aging. Bands at 1116 and1240 cm-1 arising from C-O, C-N, and C-C stretch changed slightly during cheese aging. A correlation coefficient of 0.97 for bands between 1744 and 1167 cm-1 arising from fat, and that of 0.93 at 1650 and 1540 cm-1 arising from protein, respectively, showed that one of these fat or protein groups was highly related to the other. A correlation coefficient of greater than 0.80 among the bands of fat and protein groups indicated a strong interaction in those bands. Correlation of ripening time and absorbance at bands corresponding to each function group was analyzed. A ripening index model was obtained by correlating ripening time with predominant reactive group absorbance peaks. An R2 of 0.83 and 0.59 was obtained for full-fat and reduced fat Cheddar cheese, respectively. Texture development and its correlation with FTIR spectra data for FFCC and RFCC during aging were also studied. RFCC had a higher value of hardness, gumminess, and chewiness than its full-fat counterpart. The values decreased during the early stages of ripening and then increased with time. The change in hardness, adhesiveness, and springiness was expressed as a function of the change in absorbance of the FTIR spectra using multiple regression analysis. An R2 value of 0.67, 0.54, and 0.75 was obtained for full-fat Cheddar cheese, and a value of 0.51, 0.59, and 0.54 was obtained for reduced-fat Cheddar cheese for the respective texture parameters.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Background: Traditionally, zirconia has been used as a core material for allceramic crowns that are later covered by a more esthetic veneering layer. Recently, new zirconia materials with higher translucency commonly referred to as the “full contour zirconia” have been introduced with the aim to allow dentist to fabricate entire allceramic crown from the material with acceptable esthetic and mechanical functions without the need for veneering. However, there is little information in the literature regarding the translucency of full contour zirconia and the degree of conversion of resin cement underneath the full contour zirconia. Objectives: 1) To investigate the translucency parameter (TP) of recently marketed full contour zirconia and compare that to traditional zirconia and lithium disilicate glass ceramic (LDGC) at different thicknesses. 2) To evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) of the resin cement through different thicknesses of the full contour zirconia, traditional zirconia and LDGC. Alternative hypothesis: The new generation zirconia at the clinically recommended thickness has lower translucency than that of LDGC and higher than that of non-veneered traditional zirconia. In addition, DC of resin cement under full contour zirconia is lower than that of LDGC and higher than that of traditional zirconia. Methods: 150 ceramic specimens (12 x12 mm with thickness of 1-2 mm for LDGC and Zirconia) were divided into 6 groups according to the type of material, as follow: LDGC (IPS e-max CAD), Traditional Zirconia (CAP QZ), full contour zirconia (CAP FZ, Zirlux, Bruxzir, KDZ Bruxer). The TP for materials at various thicknesses were measured by a spectrophotometer (CM-2600D). The DC of the light curing resin cement (Variolink II) underneath the ceramic disks was measured by FTIR. Result: All full contour zirconia has lower translucency parameter and light transmission than LDGC. The translucency parameter decreases with increasing thickness of any type of ceramic. There were no significant differences in the degree of conversion of resin cement among the type of ceramic disc, except Bruxzir. The correlation of TP between various thicknesses and the types of ceramic materials was established by a regression analysis.

The experimental identification of mechanical properties is crucial in mechanics for understanding material behavior and for the development of numerical models. Classical identification procedures employ standard shaped specimens, assume that the mechanical fields in the object are homogeneous, and recover global properties. Thus, multiple tests are required for full characterization of a heterogeneous object, leading to a time consuming and costly process. The development of non-contact, full-field measurement techniques from which complex kinematic fields can be recorded has opened the door to a new way of thinking. From the identification point of view, suitable methods can be used to process these complex kinematic fields in order to recover multiple spatially varying parameters through one test or a few tests. The requirement is the development of identification techniques that can process these complex experimental data. This thesis introduces a novel identification technique called the constitutive compatibility method. The key idea is to define stresses as compatible with the observed kinematic field through the chosen class of constitutive equation, making possible the uncoupling of the identification of stress from the identification of the material parameters. This uncoupling leads to parametrized solutions in cases where 5 the solution is non-unique (due to unknown traction boundary conditions) as demonstrated on 2D numerical examples. First the theory is outlined and the method is demonstrated in 2D applications. Second, the method is implemented within a domain decomposition framework in order to reduce the cost for processing very large problems. Finally, it is extended to 3D numerical examples. Promising results are shown for 2D and 3D problems

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第17984号 / 工博第3813号 / 新制||工||1584(附属図書館) / 80828 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科電気工学専攻 / (主査)教授 山川 宏, 教授 松尾 哲司, 准教授 中村 武恒 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第20061号 / 工博第4249号 / 新制||工||1658(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻 / (主査)教授 三ｹ田 均, 教授 小池 克明, 教授 木村 亮 高梨 将 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education / This study explored the attitudes of teachers in three types of South African schools (Mainstream, Full-service, and Special school) towards inclusive education in relation to the support that they are receiving in the implementation of inclusive education in their respective schools. Participants in this study were selected purposively from mainstream, full-service, and special schools within the Johannesburg South district. Data in the research was collected through individual teacher interviews. Data obtained was interpreted using qualitative methods. Participants were coded (in relation to the type of school they are from) in order to ensure anonymity in the results. Data was analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Thematic Content Analysis allowed the researcher to descriptively identify, analysis, and report themes. It involved the identifying of common themes throughout the text which describe significant aspects of the data in relation to the research question. The computer programme ATLAS was used in order to assist with the Thematic Analysis. Following the analysis of data it was found that the attitudes of mainstream and full-service teachers towards inclusive education are mostly negative in comparison to that of teachers in special schools as result to the discrepancies in the level of support each teacher receives to implement inclusive education (depending on the type of school they are in). The former has implication in terms of how effectively inclusive education is implemented in all schools in South Africa because in accordance to this study's findings support for teachers should not be based on only the type of school teachers are in but also the type of support teachers need individually. Also it was found that the ideals of inclusive education are not fully accepted by all stakeholders (more specifically the different units within the district) within the education department and this has influenced how teachers view the relevance of inclusive education policies. Considering the finding of the study, an exploration of how all stakeholders in the education system view and practice the policy of inclusive education is seemingly required in future research to better understand the state in which inclusive education is currently progressing in South Africa. Furthermore due to teachers being a major stakeholder in the implementation of inclusive education, it is important that continuous exploration on their attitudes and that which may influence their attitude towards inclusive education is done. Consequently, issues such as discrepancies in support towards teachers due to differences in types of school need to be further investigated. / Andrew Chakane 2020

This project starts starts out in wanting to somehow investigate the public space. Beginning in the questions of: What kind of interventions can we achieve in the public space? What is allowed, what is encouraged - what is not? How easy or how difficult is it to achieve building something within the folds of the public space of our city?  On the scale of the intervention itself, we were interested in what things could be investigated through design and materiality: How can we, through this design, encapsulate and measure softer, hard-to-grasp elements such as time, changes and interactions? How can we design a structure that will be responsive to the traces and manifestations of these things? What materials and organization of these can embody them?

This study examines the complex relationship between gender, virtual reality (VR), and social interaction within the context of full-body tracking (FBT) technology in social VR platforms. As VR technology advances and becomes increasingly integrated into users’ lives, understanding the implications of gender expression and perception in these immersive environments is crucial. Utilizing unobtrusive observations and interviews within the VRChat platform, this research explores avatar choices, interactions, and FBT technology utilization as they relate to users’ expressions and perceptions of gender. The findings reveal that cultural background plays a significant role in shaping users’ gender expressions and perceptions in social VR. The study also demonstrates the fluidity of gender expression in virtual environments, highlighting how users can challenge and subvert traditional gender norms, and the potential of virtual reality as a tool for experiential learning, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and promoting inclusive and diverse gender expressions. This study contributes to the emerging body of literature on virtual reality and gender, providing insights that can inform future research and technology development in the field.